Melody and Meaning with Devin Peralta

Devin Peralta is the lead singer, songwriter, and bassist of Reno, Nevada’s punk rock trio Cobra Skulls. They are currently on infamous punk label Fat Wreck Chords, and have released 3 full length albums, and various singles and ep's.

I pursued Devin for this blog because I haven’t identified with songs of this genre in such a profound way for years. I had this hunch that Devin is not your average musician. 

Today’s punk rock scene is littered with redundancy, and Devin’s music has inspired me in my writing a lot as of late, with regards to the 3 to 4 chord , 90 second song approach. 

Devin writes as if he understands the foundational qualities of simple, I-IV-V-I chord progressions, and his vocal melodies celebrate the same simplicity while remaining engaging and refreshing.  He doesn’t sing like a gear-head, however, his vocals are raw and gritty and filled with emotion.

Devin in Action

Listen to the second verse and chorus of “Iron Lung,” from their album “Agitations.” The verse has 3 chords, (A aka I, D aka IV, and E aka V in the key of A major) The chorus adds a fourth chord, the all-powerful relative minor. (f#m aka vi) Don’t panic, we’ll hit minors and other non I-IV-V-I chords another time.

Devin spoke to me about his attraction to punk rock, his musical background, and what inspires him. It turns out that my hunch was accurate, Devin’s been classically trained in piano, and played the saxophone for years in addition to his bass and vocal undertakings. Listening to his music, there’s an element of sophistication, even though it’s fast punk rock.  However, although he knows a thing or two about the nuts and bolts, the passion and fire in his delivery does not suffer as a result. 

When did you first realize you wanted to pursue music?

“When I found punk rock.  It was very full of energy and the people making it weren't virtuosos.  The music was fun, simple, catchy, like the early days of rock and roll, country and rockabilly.  It made me think, "Hey, I can do that!"  so I did.”

He’s not kidding about the early days of rock and roll, country and rockabilly being an influence on punk. Listen to his walking bass line and almost Gospel style delivery on “H.D.U.I.” It’s almost like Elvis’s “Mystery Train” on speed.

PROS and CONS

The irony in punk rock is that what was originally a movement that encouraged self-expression,  rebellion, and community has since morphed into one of the more fickle and judgmental scenes out there. Devin has faced these pros and cons on tour all over the U.S. and Europe.

“The advantages of being in a "punk" band is that you, unless, are fostered and farmed by a major label, is that you learn everything from the ground up, and you know how to handle things because you start small and if you last for more than a year it means that people in a community appreciate you and help you.  No one in the underground/diy/music scene had ever achieved anything on their own.  No one is self-made.  We all help each other. “

My 2 cents

Having toured and traveled in punk bands, I couldn't agree more that there is a sense of community, which is honestly what attracted me to punk as well. There is a camaraderie and an energy that is very inspiring when you are traveling, and building up a buzz around your band. Over the last 5 years, the Cobra Skulls following has increased with each show I catch in Chicago.

Devin elaborates on the disadvantages of playing punk.

“When people become passionate fans of your band and feel like they know you and how you are  and feel like they've been a part of the band as the band has been a part of them, they may turn on you when you try to change.  It's strange, punks in theory are very open minded, but they are easily offended or feel betrayed if a band changes their sound.  I know that when I was in high school and a band came out with a new album that sounded different, I would say something like, "oh they sold out"  or "they suck now", but I think that's just how it is when you're young.  You are passionate and the world is a scary place and for kids like me, music was my anchor and when a band changes, it's shocking and if you can't handle it you reject it." 

It’s not all rejection and backlash, however. Devin discusses the highlight of the last year of being in the band and the rewarding feelings that came with it.

“This year, we played Groezrock, a festival in Europe.  Our stage was probably third or fourth tier out of a dozen stages.  You never know if everyone is going to go see the other bands playing and leave you there playing to a few stragglers, but we played to what seemed to be 1,000+ people and there were people from all over Europe going nuts while we played, jumping on stage, singing our songs both in English and Spanish (I'm bilingual).  It was really cool to see that something I am a part of is something that people have connected with all over the world and I think feelings of struggle, accomplishment, hardship and fortune coalesced that day and from then on I don't really care what happens with this band.  It's been a success for me and anything else positive that happens is icing on the cake.”  

A-HA!

So the Groezrock festival proved to be a well-deserved reward for years of hard work with Cobra Skulls; a true “A-ha” moment for Devin Peralta. So while we’re on “A-ha” moments, why not touch on a couple others?

“One memorable “A-ha” moment was when a family friend played Minuet in G by Mozart on the piano.  He played it very well.  It's a simple song, but just hearing that made me cry when I was in second grade."

  

"The second time was when I heard punk rock in 7th grade.  All the music I had been listening to was just mainstream garbage.  The stuff that has good melody, hooks, etc. but it was all vapid and when I heard punk I thought, "Now that's how I feel!"”

Dookie inspired Devin at a young age, as did Rancid’s “And Out Come the Wolves.” Devin explains, “Those were commercially successful punk albums, partly for the reason that they were accessible to those who don't like punk. I would say everyone should listen to Bad Religion's suffer, but maybe that's not as accessible and it would be a waste to recommend such a gem to the masses."

Punk, not punk, mainstream, underground, salsa, Hebrew, Gamelan, death metal, jazz; all musics have a process, some deeply rooted tradition that though modified over time, continues to preserve itself.

So what is Devin Peralta’s process?

“The best songs usually come to me as a melody while I'm doing something physical, mechanical or mundane.  For instance, some of the best songs I've written come to me while I'm driving, bussing tables, working on my uncle's farm, or just cleaning the house and when I do not have a guitar in hand.   I like to record my melodies on my phone and then go back to them a week later and see if it was something worth pursuing or if it was just something that was momentarily entertaining."

Assuming an idea is worth pursuing, what must the finished product have?

“For me it's a combination of melody and meaning.  The music does come first for me.  That's what catches you and drives the song.  If there is meaning behind the lyrics, then the song really has a lasting effect, where as if the lyrics are vapid, there won't be a deeper connection and it will just be a good song that will come and go.”

Meaning

It’s subjective, isn't it? My close friend loves Hanson with all of her heart, and a guitar student of mine is obsessed with Kiss. Do you know how much crap I get for liking Pink Floyd? We decide what music means to us for ourselves, and we also decide what music that has little or no meaning to us...

Meaningless

I wanted to know what sect of music Devin simply cannot find meaning in. Now, I’m not writing this blog to bash anyone’s opinion, but if anyone out there CAN find the merit in the following music, please make your point, and we can discuss. I personally agree wholeheartedly with the following points, but if you happen to be a fan, you are obviously entitled to your opinion.

“Limp Bizkit, Creed, Godsmack, Nickleback, and Puddle of Mud.  I call it construction rock, because construction workers (and I generalize here) usually just put on mainstream rock radio that plays that terrible, terrible garbage and it's basically good for just something to distract you from the heat and hard labor, but it sucks.  I much prefer the durangense and norteño music from Mexico that the immigrant farm workers and cooks listen to while they work .That music has soul.”

Thanks to Devin and The Cobra Skulls for participating, and for making music that I identify with. I mean, it’s no Creed, but they are working at it. 
In all seriousness, thanks to Devin very much for your thoughts, and, sorry Creed.

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